(US4935572-A)      Prodn. of high mol.wt. hydrocarbon from methane contg. gas comprises oxidative coupling with O2 to produce ethane and ethylene with high selectivity in presence of mixed basic metal oxide catalyst of formula xA.yB.zC.qO, where A = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs and mixts. B = cation with ionisation state 1 greater than that of C; when B = Sc, Y, La, Ac, Al, B and mixts. then C = Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra, Zn, Cd, Hg and mixts,; or when B = Ti, Zr, Hf, Si and mixts. then C = Sc, Y, La, Ac, Al, B and mixts. X and y are in mol fractions of z such that when z = 1 then x = 0.001-0.25 and y = 0.001 -0.25 and q maintains charge balance with O2.    USE -   Large natural gas feedstock can potentially be converted at high rate. (6pp)a    (US4950827-A)      Prodn. of high mol. wt. hydrocarbons by forming longer substit. hydrocarbon on an aromatic ring comprises oxidative coupling aliphatic or aromatic cpds. or mixts. with aliphatic or alicyclic substd. aromatic hydrocarbon cpds. or mixts. to form longer substit. hydrocarbon on an aromatic ring in presence of oxygen and mixed basic metal oxide catalyst of formula xAyBzCqO (I).    In (I), A is alkali metal e.g. Li, Na, K, etc.; B is e.g. Sc, Y, La, Al, B or mixts. when C is e.g. Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra, Zn, etc.; B is Ti, Zr, Hf, Si or mixts. when C is Sc, Y, La, Ac, Al, B and mixts.; x and y are in mol fractions of z, such that when z = 1, x = 0.001-0.25 and y = 0.001-0.25 and q is a number which maintains a charge balance with O being oxygen.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful method for converting toluene and methane to styrene. Longer hydrocarbon substit. on an aromatic ring can be obtd. (6pp)c    (US4950830-A)      Producing unsatd. aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbon chains by dehydrogenation of e.g. aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbons or aliphatic substd. aromatic hydrocarbons comprises using mixed basic metal oxide catalyst of formula xA.yB.zC.qO (I).    In (I), A is Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, etc.; B is cation with ionisation state greater than ionisation state of C and is Sc, Y, La, Ac, Al, B and mixts. when C is Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, etc.; B is Ti, Zr, Hf, Si and mixts. when C is Sc, Y, La, Ac, Al, B and mixts.; x and y are in mol. fractions of z such that when z = 1, x = 0.001-0.25 and y = 0.001-0.25 and q is a number which maintains charge balance with O being oxygen.    USE -   Conversion of ethylbenzene to styrene. (6pp)